Posted by adamyukish on June 18, 2010
Which is your favorite? The Swing Away or a Draw heat press? Both have their advantages to you, the consumer. Would you like the draw action so you can view your work area from any angle? Or do you prefer the swing away option to completely move the heat? Odds are, you’ve had jobs where both features would come in handy. Now what about a fully threadable lower platen? How many different settings do you have for your various heat transfers? Wouldn’t it be simple to cycle through them?
If you’re in the business, what is your “dream machine”? Hotronix has created a press that should be the closest thing. Introducing the Hotronix Fusion! The Fusion should offer you everything on your wish list. Fully threadable platen, check. Easily to change lower platen, check. Auto on/off, check. Touch screen, digital display, check!
Do yourself a favor. Check out the video and see what this press has to offer your business!!
Posted in Heat Presses | Tagged: heat press, hotronix, swinger, swing away, draw press, heat transfers, Hotronix Fusion, digital display, digital time, digital temperature, digital pressure | Leave a Comment »
Posted by adamyukish on April 27, 2010
A while back i posted my Material Calculator and it has been the most popular post on my blog. Many customers have used the calculator to help them determine both the yardage needed and the cost per design for their Heat Transfer Material, namely our Spectra Eco-Film (check out the Color Chart).
Since i first posted the Material Calculator about a year and a half ago, there have been a few changes to the product offering. Some highlights are the addition of some more “fashionable” materials like our Spectra Alloy, Spectra Glitz, Spectra Gloss and a few others. We’ve also lowered the price on our popular Spectra Patterns.
Here’s an example of what you can do using the Material Calculator:
A customer comes to you and needs 24 6×8 designs printed on the front of their shirts. Using the material calculator, you can quickly find out you’ll need only two yards to complete the job and each design will cost you $0.69 using the Spectra Eco-Film. You’ll also see what the cost would be for other material options if you chose to offer a glitter, glow in the dark or other type of design option.
The updated version of the calculator can be found in the Box on the left hand side. It is named Material Calculator v.2.1. If you have any questions at all on how to use the spreadsheet, please email me!
Posted in Heat Applied Material | Tagged: cad-cut, Eco-Film, heat applied film, heat applied materials, heat applied vinyl, heat press application tips, heat press applications, heat transfer material, heat transfers, Spectra, Spectra Alloy, Spectra Fashion Flock, Spectra Glitz, Spectra Glowz, vinyl transfers | 2 Comments »
Posted by adamyukish on April 16, 2010
How much do you incorporate fashion in to your vinyl cutter business? I covered in an earlier post some materials that can ad some flair to your apparel. Another way to make your good more fashionable is to use the latest decorating trends. I’ve identified the Distressed look as a trend that has been around for a little while but is still very popular.
It may seem like the distressed look would be difficult but it’s really not when you use the right tools. I sourced two fonts that will make creating the artwork the easy part for a change! The best to use are Destroy and Gesso. I’ve selected these two because of the ease of weeding. There are plenty of distressed fonts available but not all will allow you to weed rather quickly.
Of the two, Gesso is the easier to weed. Most of the lines and detail will be weeded out on the initial pull.
Destroy has a bit more detail. Don’t get me wrong, it will take a little more time to weed this design! However, in my opinion, the end result is the best.
The weeding process for the Gesso font took about a minute longer then it normally would. This should be factored in to your pricing. Destroy took about 5 minutes longer. The good news is you don’t have to get all the detail! It’s distressed so if you leave a few spots behind that should have been weeded it actually adds to the look!
Here’s the end result:
Gesso
Destory
Simply adding a specific font to you design software can add a lot to you business!
Equipment and Materials used:
Posted in Heat Applied Material, Uncategorized | Tagged: heat press, vinyl cutter, heat applied vinyl, distressed look, Roland GX-24, Hotronix Fusion | 2 Comments »
Posted by adamyukish on May 20, 2009
Q: What is the worst thing you can tell your customer?
A: “No.”
How many times have you had to tell your customers “No”? Far too often I’m sure. If it’s not “no”, then it may be “I’ll have it for you in two weeks” because you have to outsource the job. There isn’t a machine out there that will give every customer everything they want, but there is one that will give you a heck of a start. That machine is the Roland VersaCAMM.
So what makes the VersaCAMM such a versatile machine? Consider the following. Imprintables Warehouse offers 15 different types of Digital Media…and that’s just for garment decoration! While most would expect a media for cotton, poly and cotton/poly blends to be available, they may be unaware that they can decorate performance wear, spandex, nylon, leather, both light and darks, just by switching out the media loaded in the machine. Possible applications range from the common t-shirt to fire retardant leather race apparel to polypropelene bags that have become popular in the Promotional Product industry. Not to mention socks, shoes, shorts & sandles…and much more! And yes, i did spend a minute or two trying to think of another product you can decorate than begins with an “s” but decided to go on with the post. No sense getting sidetracked.
How about a printable Flock? Anyone have a need for full color Reflective printing for safety apparel? Have you had requests for a Puff print on a t-shirt? Metallic is another effect that can serve an entire new market. If your customers haven’t asked you for this yet, it may only be because they haven’t seen it!
Speaking of new markets…Imprintables Warehouse has introduced a new line of printable material. Our NAM line, or Non-Apparel Media is a bit of a departure from what has always been availabe from IW. These materials were brought on to work in conjuction with the digital media for garment decoration that was mentioned above. The difference is that these are not heat applied medias, but pressure sensitive. Same printer, same inks, more versatility. Imprintables Warehouse now stocks 12 more medias (that’s a total of 27 if you’re playing along) for application on to football, baseball & hockey helmets, stickers, laptop skins, removable wall graphics and posters just to name a few. Consider the ability to print on banners, vehicle graphics, custom labels for bottles and window displays. The list goes on and on!
Think about this. Your customer brings you one piece of artwork. All they may expect is a new t-shirt, hoodie or maybe a cap. If you can offer them what they came to you for, that’s great. Having the ability to offer them so much more will bring in more $$$$ and make for a happier customer and a happier you!
If you are intersted in adding the Roland VersaCAMM or if you’ve already made the investment and you’re interested in any of the medias offered by Imprintables Warehouse, please email me at adam@imprintables.com. You can also call me in the office at 1-800-347-0068 x 234 or on my cell at 724-322-1085.
If you’re interested in reading more about the VersaCAMM, please read a previous post – Comparing the Versacamm – Direct to Garment.
Thanks for reading!
AY
Posted in Print/Cut Machines | Tagged: heat applied materials, heat press application tips, heat press applications, heat transfer material, heat transfers, roland, solutions opaque, sp-300, versacamm, versacamm financing, vp-300 | Leave a Comment »
Posted by adamyukish on August 5, 2009
Dye-Migration is dye from a sublimated fabric bleeding through and dyeing a heat transferred design. Since Polyester is the only fabric that is gets its color from the sublimation process, it’s the only fabric that you’ll see migrate. Dye-Migration should not be confused with opacity. In the world of garment decoration, opacity refers to a heat transfer blocking out the color of the dark garment where as migration is the dye of the fabric coming through and becoming a part of the transfer.
So how do you solve Dye-Migration? Simply by using the right product. Standard heat transfers may not block migration. If you run in to an angry polyester that doesn’t like being transferred on to, you can use the Solutions Sub-Block for a full color printable fabric or Spectra Sub-Stop for single color vinyl cut transfer. Both products are available from Imprintables Warehouse and from me by requesting a sample.
Please see the pictures below for what migration looks like and how much a difference using the correct media makes. The fabric this material is applied to is one of the popular performance wear garments.
Heat transfer with Dye-Migration:
Same heat transfer using the Solutions Sub-Block:
Side by side comparison:
The side by side comparison really shows the migration from one transfer to the next. It is most apparent in the white but the entire design is noticeably faded.
Dye-migration can be a problem but certainly not one that can’t be avoided or fixed. Just like choosing the correct transfer for a cotton or nylon, choosing the correct transfer for garments prone to migrate is essential to success as a garment decorator.
ay
Posted in Heat Applied Material, Print & Cut Material | Tagged: heat press, heat press application tips, heat press applications, Spectra, dye-migration, subli-stop, sub-stop, solutions | 1 Comment »
Posted by adamyukish on November 2, 2009
Hello all. I exhibited at the NBM Printwear Show in Charlotte a couple weeks back and shot a video with the folks at NBM in our booth. The video was limited to three minutes but you can get an idea of the products I represent at Imprintables Warehouse and also get a chance to view a bit of our Trade Show Booth if you haven’t made it out to see us at a Trade Show before.
Here’s the link to the video: Imprintables Warehouse Booth – Charlotte.
Also, if you’re interested in coming out to a show, the Trade Shows page on the site has been updated with the shows Imprintables Warehouse will be exhibiting at next year and the shows which I will be attending. As free registrations are posted, I’ll add them to the site as well. Keep checking back!
Posted in Heat Applied Material, Heat Presses, Print/Cut Machines, vinyl cutter | 1 Comment »
Posted by adamyukish on December 24, 2009
The heat press has come a long way from the days cold spots, uneven pressure and inaccurate temperature readings. There has been one company primarily responsible for making the heat press the fine tuned machine that it is today – Stahls Hotronix.
Around 20 years ago, Heat Presses weren’t nearly as accurate as they are now. Heating elements were located on the top side of the platen and spaced as much as six inches apart. The temperature was measured using a Bi-Metallic thermometer, also on the top of the platen. Bi-Metallic thermometers coupled with the location of the elements caused a 10 degree variance in the set temperature of the press. A transfer that was to be applied at 350 degrees could have actually been applied at as low as 340 degrees or as high as 360. A variance like that can and probably will greatly affect the quality of the transfer.
Hotronix developed the first cast in heating element and RTD temperature sensor. The cast in heating element took the element from the top of the press and placed it inside the upper platen. Heating elements were also made much closer together, moved to less than 2″ apart. The RTD (Resistance Temperature Device) measured the temperature not on the top side, but at the pressing surface of the heat platen. Hotronix was also the first to add a Digital Temperature readout. The old meat thermometer readout was very difficult to set an accurate temperature and even more difficult to read. With heat transfers calling for a very specific temperature to be applied at, being off a few degrees coupled with the 10 degree variance caused many more heat transfers to fail and many more $ out of your profits. Off all the innovations i have and will speak of, incorporating the digital readout was probably the most important innovation made in the heat transfer business.
Accurate temperature is just one of the important pieces to the Heat Transfer puzzle. Another, equally important piece is Time. The timer, if there was one, on the press of yesteryear was essentially a “wind up” kitchen timer. When it buzzed, time was up. As with temperature, the time the transfer is being pressed has to be accurate. Inaccuracies can lead to a transfer that’s not very easy to peel and can affect the adhesive quality. As with Digital Temperature, the Digital Time readout allowed a better end product.
Digital Time and Temperature was first added by Hotronix a while back. More recently, a Digital Pressure readout has also been added. Digital pressure eliminates the guess-work that had always been associated with manual heat presses. Pressure is measured on a 1 – 9 scale with one being the lowest and 9 being the highest or firmest pressure. Now, a heat transfer will be pressed at the same pressure no matter who is manning the heat press.
The upgrades I’ve discussed so far have been upgrades that have made the press a more accurate machine. The Auto-opening developed within the last few years is an innovation that made the machine much easier to use. The digital timer along with an electromagnetic release and shock opening cut user fatigue in half. Now, a press operator only has to close the machine, it opens automatically, on time, by itself.
Other Hotronix innovations include:
- Stress relieved heating element eliminates warping caused by excessive heat. A warped element can lead to uneven pressure.
- Upper flotational platen on clamshell machines virtually eliminates the pinching effect found on any other clamshell design. The flotational platen also allows for even, consistent pressure.
- Over the center pressure adjustment easily and evenly distributes pressure throughout the entire surface area.
- Laser cut steel makes a stronger, more durable press.
If you’re looking for a company that stands behind their equipment, Hotronix is unrivaled. Their support is top-notch, and warranties are easy to understand and hardly ever needed. At Imprintables Warehouse, I have set up many a customer with a Heat Press manufactured by Stahls Hotronix to start out or expand their existing business. I’m confident their business was easier to run and more profitable because of their decision to go with the “Cadillac” of Heat Presses.
AY
Posted in Heat Presses | Leave a Comment »
